As I write this, I realized that this will post at the four-year mark for my blog. So, as you read this, I am entering year five of sharing with you. That truly amazes me, and I am dumbfounded at how God has continued to provide words for me to share with you.
Early on in my recovery as I was struggling with severe depression and anxiety, I was told by well-meaning Christians and pastors to be thankful. I really didn’t think I had anything to be thankful for. What did they know? I had been through more than I felt they could understand or imagine, and I soaked myself in that self-pity.
Granted, it’s okay to feel what you went through and to grieve what you lost because of it. However, as the years went on and my counselor also encouraged me to be grateful, I began to “force” it.
I started simple. I am grateful the refrigerator is working. I am grateful for heat and air conditioning -since I live in the Midwest. I even wrote a short book about 50 blessings just to force myself to realize all I did have for which to be grateful.
What I found is that by forcing it I began to feel it. I have so much to be thankful for in this life. I have received countless blessings and I don’t deserve any of them. We don’t deserve anything we get, but yet God chooses to bless us anyway.
I am trying hard to find extra money to put towards training and resources right now as I seek to help kiddos with reading and so I began to pray for God’s provision to open up funds.
As I did this, I was blessed with a free divider screen I needed. I received some cash for clothes I no longer wear and sold to resale shops, and yesterday I made what will be about 20 meals out of some crab meat I got from the pantry I work at each week. As I was freezing the extra portions it made, I felt God remind me He’s got this.
Yes, He definitely does, and I am so thankful. I am thankful for the friends and people He has brought into my life to help me on this journey, and I am thankful He is allowing me to share it.
I encourage you to make it a habit to list three things you are grateful for each day. Fake it until you make it if you have to, just as I did. There are little blessings all around and as you start to see the many things you have been given and focus less on the negative, it will change your thinking patterns.
Just as the verse says: “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20
I am thankful for each of you! Here’s to year five! 😊
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